Domingo the Honored

[quote name='Kankou' timestamp='1343680480' post='3017069'] Suggestion: Land disputes require preplanning. If we have preplanning in place, it should be applied to land disputes. [/quote] No. A senseless rule which lost the poll anyway, just apparently outside of time constraints (still in place on a technicality) does not deserve to be spread further. The current pre-planning is so ridiculously controversial and contested anyway there's no way an expansion would be logical.

[center][b]Cyrantian Tribune[/b][/center] [b]Military:[/b] Today, for the first time, several very badly-kept state secrets have been publicly released by the government. The first is military in nature - the Grand Chancellor of the State acknowledged the War of Liberation in Yoitsu. He explained that the former ally of the Chancellery was unstable and ruled by ineffective and cruel rulers, and that the joint effort of its removal with Marscurian Siberia was the only option available. The territory has since been reorganized into two protected autonomous republics, with the western half, the Federal Republic of Yoitsu, being connected to Cyrantia. A portion of the troops from all four Armies have made up half of the new Republic's 100,000 man peacekeeping force. The second state secret finally released today acknowledged the disappearance and eventual recovery of the High Chancellor of Defense, Mikhail Zherdev. While at a party in Australia held by the recently-defunct Southern Cross, he was kidnapped by pirates. The other three High Chancellors in attendance were unharmed and returned to Cyrantia on schedule. Zherdev was not treated badly, was well-dressed and fed upon rescue. The circumstances of his release were not explained, though it is widely believed the government paid a substantial ransom for him. His return to the capital, Xavier, was attended by a crowd of almost 25,000 cheering Cyrantian citizens. [b]Infrastructure:[/b] It was announced today that the scientific research station on the Chancellery's remote Antarctic island would instead be converted to a high-security military fortress. Differing from the nation's military bases, constructed to house soldiers and defend the Cyrantian mainland, it will be guarded by a garrison of elite bodyguards trained specifically for the defense of the Cabinet. When asked about the development of the fortress, the Grand Chancellor of the State stated that "It will function as one of the headquarters of the military's High Command." He commented that a "lack of scientific advancements or significant results" from the former science base contributed to the conversion's approval. The Grand Chancellor was also asked about a rumor spreading through the capital that the base would serve as a place for the Cyrantian leadership to flee in times of crisis as a sort of large, defended panic room, but he declined to comment. [b][center]Classified[/center][/b] From: Maksim Bazhenov To: Sergei Aleksandrov Grand Chancellor, I have received a report today from the builders sent to build our new fortress and the guards accompanying them. They have reported that they found no scientists or soldiers left in the base, which explains the loss of contact with them. They also note some significant damage internally to the facility, but no signs of blood, injury, or violence. The unexplained damage and missing personnel is certainly worrying, but there was nothing living or dangerous found inside or outside the base, or on the island. A thorough sweep of the entire place revealed nothing, and subsequently the undamaged facility was successfully dismantled, with all portions receiving damage demolished completely. The new fortress has had its hull completed already, and all the internals are projected to be online within a month. Signed, -M.B.

[center][b]Federal Republican Times, Issue One[/b][/center] Much has been happening in the Federal Republic since the nation's organization and the election of the party-independent President Aleksei Leonidov. The government has been hard at work enacting internal reforms and working with the country's protector, the Chancellery of Cyrantia, on rebuilding. Ever since the official inauguration of the President, Cyrantia has been pouring in funds designed to rebuild Yoitsu from the War of Liberation and to improve it past its pre-war state. Though the government has been given the funds to spend at their discretion in whatever manner they see fit, Grand Chancellor of the State Sergei Aleksandrov has been personally advising the President on their distribution. The funds have been responsible for the large-scale building of public schools, roads and other infrastructure. They have also been used for the construction of a grand government building in the capital of the western half of Yoitsu City. The building flies the flag of the Federal Republic at the top of its mast and the flag of the Chancellery below it. [center][img]http://i.imgur.com/H13Rd.png[/img][/center] [center][img]http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/5089/cyrantiaflag.png[/img][/center] The nation's military has also been highly developed. A peacekeeping corps 100,000 strong composed of both former Yoitsu soldiers and current Cyrantian troops has been organized. The re-appropriation of the former regime's military technologies has also been completed. All of the nation's current tanks, planes, and other combat assets find their origin with old Yoitsu. Those used by the foreign peacekeepers originate from their home nation, however. The Federal Republic maintains an open border with Cyrantia connected by recently-renovated railroads originating with the former United Socialist Republic of Siberia. The military is also keeping lax defenses on the borders with both Vaule and its northern protectorate. The vast majority of border defense has actually been noted to be with the Democratic Republic of Yoitsu, with most concentrated in the dividing zone of Yoitsu City. It is hoped by most citizens of the capital that relations with their eastern neighbors will stabilize and improve over time. [b][center]End of Issue One[/center][/b]

[quote name='Subtleknifewielder' timestamp='1342546984' post='3011223'] Well, there have been stinks in the past because a GM 'ruling' was not posted publicly on the forums. With good reason. if it's not posted in public, how can we be sure everyone knows about it? [/quote] The very minor delay of an auto-advance between Shidner and PD is barely a ruling, and it doesn't matter enough to be bothered with on these forums unless it's of concern to somebody else. Not to mention that any rational person with an ounce of intelligence can deduce that an auto-advance hasn't been given if PD doesn't post something to do with the war given by an auto-advance. As far as I know it's just a difference of a couple of days in an event that only concerns those two. The GM's don't need to bother in that situation, in my opinion.

[center][b]Response to the Islamic Republic of Iran[/b][/center] The Chancellery of Cyrantia would be more than pleased to host a delegation in our capital of Xavier, President Al-Falani. Please send your chosen visitors whenever you should see fit. They shall be received by the Grand Chancellor of the State and myself at your earliest convenience. -Dmitry Garin High Chancellor of Foreign Affairs

You silly person, you. But still, I don't think it matters all too terribly much.

Where in that log do you not see the "because schnider has always had a low activity, chances are he is just busy"? That's a pretty clear reason right there and PD seems okay with it. But by all means, do try to stir more up where there's nothing to be contested.

[quote name='PresidentDavid' timestamp='1342497825' post='3011030'] The last time I checked we can't just change the set rules without consent of the entire community - so giving people a week out of generosity doesn't sound like much of an option. [/quote] There isn't a set rule for auto-advances and never has been. At best it's been a guideline, and each GM squad has their own variations on the proper amount of time. It's really always up to them to decide what's appropriate, on a case-by-case basis. Fluctuations are appropriate, no community involvement wanted or necessary.

[quote name='KaiserMelech Mikhail' timestamp='1342266092' post='3010087'] I always knew that was how it worked with women! They called me crazy, BUT I KNEW! [/quote] They've been lying to us for too long, Melech. We [i]knew.[/i] We [i]always[/i] knew.

Strolling in later than the other three attendants to the meeting, Dr. Andrey Zadornov straightened his tie and put on a large, Russian smile. The man had been born in Cyrantia to low-level government workers and was a recent graduate of the University of Xavier, in the nation's capital. He had received a pharmaceutical doctorate, but quickly found the black market for both prescription and illicit drugs had far superior profit margins to the normal bureaucracies of medicine. He had arrived in Gotham several months back hoping to find a friendlier place to execute his trade after having been discovered by Cyrantian authorities. Despite his short stature of 5'7" and boyish, 24-year-old looks, he quickly dispatched any who doubted his criminal abilities. He had in short order constructed a fair network of buyers, sellers, and dealers within the city, and was raking in large sums of money faster than they could be counted. He also managed to retain relative anonymity - to all but his closest associates, he was known only as "The Doctor". For that reason he was very surprised to receive a correspondence summoning him to the meeting taking place with Therese Praslin. It both excited him and disturbed him that his identity had been discovered and he was summoned into the presence of other people of power. He walked into the meeting unarmed and alone, having driven himself as he often did, and greeted the two men. Gotham had not yet instilled the proper feelings of fear into him, and he was blissfully ignorant of the fact. He removed his hat and kissed Therese's hand, and then waited for the responses of his fellows.

Thanks for the clarification on point one. As for the idea in general, discussing this on IRC has improved it significantly from the OP, in my opinion. I'm beginning to like this thought quite a bit.

Okay, so let me get this straight: 1. This city will always exist, even if MostGloriousLeader deletes and somebody else wants a Gotham-less New Jersey? Even if MostGloriousLeader's nation is completely annihilated in war, that city is just golden? How is that realistic or fair in any sense? 2. No superheroes or villains from the Batman universe to be played by anybody, which rather defeats the neatness of a CNRP Gotham. Anybody can just play out a crime-ridden, downtrodden city RP, you know. 3. No superheroes or villains, but you're Batman. Let me just repeat that - no superheroes or villains in this city, except for Batman, and you get sole ownership of him? You control the only character of interest and value to anybody who isn't an in-depth fan of the series? And this is "hyper-realistic"? I look forward to the advanced and detailed explanations on the plausibility of the Batmobile and all its functions. I'm not saying this idea is bad or stupid, so don't get me wrong. I would love to see an RP like this (Batman universe Gotham City) happen and probably be a part of it. I just think this particular proposal of rules is [i]horrendously[/i] executed. If the general population thinks I'm wrong, then go ahead, but I think your proposal needs some real editing before this thing begins, if it's going to.

Rotavele claims he's leaving and tries to raqequit but actually ends up staying? [i]Shocking.[/i] Also, sorry to burst your bubble, but I suspect "the good old days of CNRP" you reference is just a figment of your mind where everybody in this community gives you your way, there was no huge difference and all the rational people here know it. And Triyun is no arch-villain no matter how badly you want to make him out to be one. But please, come back and inspire change in our black hearts corrupted by the evil GM Curristan and the all-maleficent Triyun!

[center][img]http://i.imgur.com/H13Rd.png[/img][/center] Winning with an an overwhelming majority (86 percent) of the popular election, the heavily-favored Aleksei Leonidov was declared the new President of the Federal Republic of Yoitsu today. Leonidov, who was elected as a no-party Independent in an effort to preserve national interests, has been noted to lean towards liberal political beliefs. His former experience as a nationally-renowned and reputable lawyer known to dabble in politics along with his love of the nation were cited as factors leading to his victory. The new President was also publicly backed by the government of the Chancellery of Cyrantia, the Federal Republic's protector state. With his first action as President, Leonidov began organization of a national defense force for the nation. Military assets belonging to the former regime of Yoitsu confiscated during the war have been recommissioned for new use, and many ex-soldiers have been called to duty. Though the military is far from complete, the President was noted to have called his efforts a promising start to national security.

Death to the infidels, GOONS-style. I like it.

"Dalian's still a criminal and a pretender and this organization is still going to be useless and inept. It's clear that the Compagnie's very existence no longer serves to do anything but try to validate Dalian and give her some credibility she lost ages ago. This new incarnation ought to work out just [i]superbly.[/i]" - An extremely amused Cyrantian assistant with access to international diplomatic channels.

The Cyrantians overseeing the administration of the western half of Yoitsu followed the Marscurian lead and drafted their ballots, opening the polls to public voters. There were no ambiguities to be had - either the state would go back to Vaulian control, become one, or stay as a separate nation from the other half. Like the Marscurian vote, 24 hours would elapse before the polling stations were closed, ending voting, and the ballots tallied. (OOC: As in Melech's thread, all preferences should be RP'ed as citizens of my half of Yoitsu. International opinions don't apply.)

"Not that I can think of, Mr. Karolekov. If the Marscurians have nothing to add, I'll thank you for your hospitality and begin to return trip to Cyrantia."

Bazhenov overlooked the two short documents and nodded his head in agreement. "I find nothing to object to in either of these, thank you for having them drafted, Mr. Karolekov." He then affixed his neat signature to both documents, followed by his title. Maksim Bazhenov High Chancellor of Internal Affairs Chancellery of Cyrantia

Mikhail followed Morgan into his bungalow, and in a matter of mere seconds, he found out that she was just as much a deviant in the bedroom as the ballroom. He enjoyed himself possibly more than he had in his entire life for the next few moments, and as he held her close afterwards he began to find Zherdev once again. As she spoke and got up to retrieve her clothes, his natural paranoia kicked in and a bad feeling overtook him from the ominous nature of her words. That feeling was only confirmed when he saw a pistol barrel aimed right between his eyes. He stared in shock, and in only a moment his role in the evening had shifted from lover to prisoner. His first thought once he regained lucidity was to curse himself. Caught in the ecstasy and drunkenness of the past few hours he had failed to follow his natural instinct to try and inspect the people he met for weapons. He couldn't guarantee he would have noticed the pistol or even cared about it had he seen it but any chance he had was dashed, and it was his own fault. His second thought was for how badly he wanted his clothes. Sitting inside the disorganized heap just a few feet from him was his beloved engraved Makarov PM service pistol along with his trusty switchblade. Neither of those could be reached, and when the nightgown was thrown at him it became clear he would never get the opportunity. He had only barely finished putting it on when Morgan's three burly associates arrived. Facing three men and a gun at his head, Mikhail's skills at hand-to-hand combat, toughness, and muscular soldier's physique would do him no good. Zherdev realized that his chance to escape this situation was not in that particular moment. For now, he resigned himself to his fate and offered no quarrel as his hands were tied. He assured himself that he would find a way to get away, and he readied himself for any upcoming chance. As he was risen from the bed and walked towards the door, he realized that he had made no comment throughout the entire episode. He could find no smug quip to throw at the pirates, and so just before the door was opened, he uttered the only sentence in his mind. "Damn you [i]all.[/i]"

The moment Sweeney left to handle the bar brawl Mikhail knew Morgan would get him alone with her. She followed through, but certainly not in the way he had expected. He didn't even have time to respond to her statements before they were up on the bar. The waitress led the way and destroyed most of the drinks herself, but that didn't stop the liquor from covering everything within a few feet of her legs. She picked up a large bottle of rum, and after taking a deep swig and letting him have a drink, she promptly utilized it as an explosion-less Molotov cocktail towards the fight. He followed her jump off the bar and took a look where she was turned towards two security guards who did indeed look very upset. He couldn't tell whether they were directed at himself and Morgan or the brawl taking place in the bar, but once again he was taken by the hand running before he could think. Mikhail expected to be deeply out of breath and upset, but when they finally stopped running, he was actually laughing. Perhaps it really had been too long since he had done something truly fun. "You don't have to be sorry, I enjoyed our little race through the event. I appreciate you not giving up the opportunity." That self-assured and playful smirk preceded the evening's first kiss, which was as long and deep as any Zherdev had ever experienced. When it was finally broken, he looked at her with a genuine smile. "Well, you finally got me away from Sweeney, and covered in probably no less than a dozen types of drinks, so what now? I've got a bungalow, but I came as part of a delegation of four. We could walk on the beach or do something Australian, too. You're the expert on having a good time here." Mikhail leaned in and kissed Morgan again before her response, which he couldn't help but doing. He didn't like to cut someone off, but tonight seemed like it had been waiting for it.

Mikhail smiled back at Morgan's look and realized how very far from tired he in fact was. "I'll be able to stay up all evening, I can tell it already. I can't say I'm very good at being risen to see the sunrise, but sleepless nights are something I excel at." Zherdev frowned at Morgan's attempts to get rid of Sweeney. He was thoroughly enjoying the man and hoped to not lose contact with him after the party. Even though he was already swept into the woman's allure and the vodka had somewhat reached him, the move she was making was painfully transparent. "Mr. Sweeney, please stay if you so desire. I certainly hope this isn't the last time we speak, and this night won't be forced to end. Do what you wish."

[quote name='TheShammySocialist' timestamp='1339377863' post='2980477']"You'll enjoy the sunrise here, its one that people paint, or one that you could take almost every day, I love rising early and running the docks of Brisbane while the sun comes up, helps me beat the heat of the day, and its just a calming sensation. If I'm ever on retreat out here, I usually run the surf and sit in the sand to watch it come up, its just one of those things I feel never gets old," said Sweeney, almost in a trance as he stared at his tumbler of alcohol while he spoke. "I'm glad to hear that you were a soldier nonetheless though, many people take up the position of Defense Minister and are civilian shoe-ins, they don't see eye-to-eye with the military, and only with the civilian eye. They are of course needed to run the day-to-day business of a nation, but I've been harping to many of my civilian colleagues that they need to take into account long term pictures, that is how it is done in the military. You set up a national defense strategy, and you stick to it, it isn't like setting taxes every year or making ordinances for, say, hell, trash pick up, it requires foresight, people like us are gifted with foresight. If many people thought with foresight, or even had a smidgeon of it, in any facet of daily life, would you not think that things might be a tad bit better everywhere?" asked Sweeney, almost rhetorically, as he went off on a tangent before realizing it. "Am I going way out to left field on a tangent that has nearly nothing to do with what we are talking about, or is it [i]just[/i] me?" chuckled Sweeney, sipping from his tumbler. [/quote] "I'm sure I'll very much enjoy this sunrise, then. Thank you for drawing my attention to it. It would have been a shame to miss, unless I somehow serendipitously woke up at the crack of dawn myself. Let me assure you, I'm not accustomed to being risen by the sun, so it would not have occurred." Zherdev thought for a moment of a sun powerful enough to wake someone from their sleep, something that didn't ever happen in the alarm clock-dependent Cyrantia. "Not that I'm a fan of discrimination, but I believe only former soldiers should be allowed to hold a Defense Minister position. But too often people believe being one will simply be a military version of your regular, run-of-the-mill political affairs. It's nothing like that at all and they get in over their heads, which can subsequently doom nations. And yes, I agree, a certain amount of foresight is really required. It would be wonderful if people could all see as far ahead as you or I, but once again, that might cost us our jobs! But in all seriousness, yes, it would make things much more pleasant and agreeable in general." Zherdev nodded his head in agreement and chuckled as Sweeney "corrected" himself. "Tangent or not, I'm enjoying our discussion, so feel free to talk about whatever existential affairs have been plaguing your mind. I'm sure I'd agree with most of them!" [quote name='Sarah Tintagyl' timestamp='1339385476' post='2980563'] "Foresight, eh?" Morgan rubbed her chin and scooted over closer to Mikhail. "To tel you the truth, I'm not a fan. I think if people had foresight they wouldn't appreciate the finer things in life. The risks that need to be taken, the chances which come and go, the triumphs as well as the tragedies. It might make the world easier, Mr. Sweeney, but I can assure you it would make our little planet here incredibly boring." She narrowed her eyes at the Australian with a smirk, "Don't underestimate me in speaking, I may not be a government official, but I still command a bit of knowledge on existentialism. It would be good foresight, in fact Mr. Sweeney, to always notice those below the middle class, you'd be surprised what we're capable of. As to the sunset, however," she continued, "I do have to say it is absolutely breathtaking, just the way the sun beams over the horizon it sets your entire soul aflame. You want to talk about passion?" Morgan said as she pushed her red hair underneath Mikhail's nose, the scent of the sea mixed with perfume traveling up his nostrils. "A good sunrise just makes me feel like I could put the world on my shoulders. I'd be curious perhaps, if you two would want to watch it with me. I don't get good company all that often, I try not to associate myself with riff-raff, but elegant gentlemen like yourselves?" The pirate turned to Mikhail and looked deeply into his eyes. "I wouldn't mind spending the entire night to the morning in such good company." Her smirk grew mysterious, captivating, passionate. "This balmy breeze just makes me alive." [/quote] Between this woman barely sitting in her own seat, making Zherdev smell her absolutely captivating hair, and holding his hand, it was greatly difficult for him to not visibly go wild. Seeing her deep expression directed towards him nearly drove him over the edge, but he regained himself and smiled a genuine smile at her. "As I've talked about with Mr. Sweeney, I'm very interested in seeing the sunrise featured in this country. To see it with two fine people such as yourselves would only serve to make the occasion ever better. So if Mr. Sweeney is so inclined, I'd enjoy seeing it together." Zherdev bit his lower lip in a way he hoped the two couldn't see upon Morgan's second to last sentence. In a new and slightly disturbing occurrence, he found himself unable to even consider a diplomatic response to it.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Morgan. Please call me Mikhail, after all, this is a party, and I believe all three of us are likely quite tired of the extensive formalities. Mr. Sweeney and I won't be selling you anything about how difficult our lives are in the higher positions of a nation, I can promise you that much." With great surprise and pleasure he saw the woman take a drink of his heavy vodka mix and not so much as flinch. He was surprised to meet someone, especially a female, who could take liquor as hard as the kind native to Siberia and not be fazed. "I only ever order what we drink in my homeland. I do hope you didn't mind it." He looked on with amazement as the woman continued her aggressive behaviors. "Perhaps it would, Morgan. Maybe so." Zherdev found some relief returning to the original topic. He had an easier time discussing his livelihood with a man who did nearly the exact same job as he than speaking to a woman who expressed herself with such liberty. "We were simply discussing the finer points of our positions and a bit of our past experiences. I'm afraid it might not be as exciting as you would deem fit." As he felt Morgan's fingertips and eventually her entire hand meet his, he lightly took it, accepting her motion. He liked this woman and what she had done so far, and if she tried anything funny, he was certain he could deal with it. A trained soldier versus a woman, it almost brought a smile to his face.

[quote name='TheShammySocialist' timestamp='1339289875' post='2980035']"Even if Miss Lizzie Whittaker is the Foreign Minister, I have a job that requires a lot of knowledge of other countries, Mr. Zherdev, her diplomatic reports get passed through to my office as well. We are officials that look outwards, not inwards, a certain finesse of knowing your way about the global map is certainly required," stated Sweeney, taking a small sip from a tumbler. "I'm glad to hear that you've found a bit of time to relax here, and please do, Lord knows this is probably one of the best places in the world to do it in. Just get up in the morning, take a step out onto your room's back porch, and you can watch the sun rise, and you know its just going to be a good day, no matter what comes." "I must ask if you are a former soldier, because I wholeheartedly agree with you when you speak of just getting orders, but then you don't get to choose the outcomes, of course, you can always [i]alter[/i] them, but you can never outright choose them. Many politicians just don't have the foresight to judge how the military operates, its a real problem when you're trying to discuss procurement orders for replacement equipment near ten years down the line, and they won't hear any of it! I can say that I agree with the military being under nominal civilian control, but sometimes it drives me bonkers listening to some of the bozos who occupy our governments don't have the foresight to see threats the way that you and I probably do."[/quote] Zherdev nodded and smiled at Sweeney, looking around the entire huge, beautiful place. "I certainly do enjoy it here. I've never been one for escaping the cold regions and living a life in the tropics, and I do love my home in Siberia, but occasionally escaping to a place like this is just what I need. I'm very much looking forward to rising before dawn to await the Australian sunrise. Something tells me it'll be slightly different from the one you barely see in Cyrantia." "As for my prior military experience, I was previously a soldier, yes. You can probably see I'm one of the youngest people in charge of a military, and I don't attribute it to my history. I don't claim to be a seasoned veteran of more wars than most people will see in a lifetime, but I like to think I'm good at what I do. Some of my greatest friends are your typical politicians, unwise to affairs of war and blind to our duties, and it does get quite bothersome. It's unfortunate that they cannot see as you and I do, but of course we probably aren't nearly as qualified as they to run the daily affairs of a nation, so they're needed. And if they were as good as us at what we do, I know a certain two gentlemen who would be out of a job!" Zherdev chuckled at his own small quip and thought of his fellow Cyrantian party-goers, who were very much the embodiment of the men he and Sweeney were describing. Lord knew where they'd gotten off to. [quote name='Sarah Tintagyl' timestamp='1339349528' post='2980285'] After making one round across the bungalows, a bit of liquor on her lips and a few pieces of fish and chicken in her stomach, Morgan turned back to the party. For the parties she had been and sneaked into in her life, there wasn't much going on here. She could overhear the boring concepts of politics and of their personal lives, mostly sob stories, and nothing which would win a bestseller at a bookstore. It was time, then, to be proactive in looking for entertainment and a bit of self-gain for the rest of the evening. Heading back towards the bungalow bar surrounded by tiki torches, the red-haired pirate took her tray and placed it right between Zherdev and Sweeney with a smile. "Excuse me gentlemen, I didn't mean to bother either of you. But perhaps I could interest one of you in something to eat or maybe something to drink. Or even if nothing else, some friendly conversation?" Morgan threw a wink towards Zherdev and casually unclipped one of her buttons of the white waitress' blouse, just enough to show a tad bit of cleavage to the two defense ministers. "You wouldn't believe just how dull some of these people are. I would hope a man from the north and a native Aussie, won't be so grim." [/quote] Zherdev pulled his head back a bit in surprise at the abrupt entry of the woman's tray, but quickly brought it back. "It's no trouble, Miss, thank you, and feel free to sit down if you'd like." He took one of the hors d'oeuvres from her tray, but nearly spit it out upon seeing her wink and unbutton a part of her shirt. He didn't like to admit it, but he wasn't very good with flirtatious women. There weren't exactly an abundance of them in Cyrantia, and he unwillingly found himself feeling like a 16-year-old. In an attempt to regain some of his composure he swallowed the piece of food, and with some difficulty found his familiar confident, skeptical smile and brought it to his face. "Well, let's hope you won't be disappointed. We Defense Ministers seem to carry our own brand of personality, so I do hope you find yourself partial to it. You seem to know both of us already, so may I ask your name?"